Vocational qualifications for adults in an area of conflict between educational policy and trade and industry in Switzerland

Vocational education and training for adults has been declared to be a major educational policy focus in Switzerland over recent years. The Federal Government sees the second-chance training of adults who have failed to obtain a qualification subsequent to completion of compulsory education as providing considerable potential in terms of covering the requirement for skilled workers. Trade and industry stakeholders have a major part to play in this process despite having made very little educational provision and very few training places available to adults thus far. This article highlights the various perspectives of policy makers and of trade and industry, and sheds light on the role being played by research in the development of new solution pathways.